BEIRUT/TOKYO - Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn decided to flee Japan after learning that his trial had been delayed until April 2021 and also because he had not been allowed to speak to his wife, sources close to Ghosn said on Thursday .
"They said they needed another whole year to prepare for it... He was distressed about not being able to see or speak to his wife," one of the sources close to Ghosn said. Ghosn, 65, was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 and faces four charges for alleged financial crimes in Japan, including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to car dealerships in the Middle East. He denies the charges.
She said the other detainees were two airport ground staff and one cargo worker and all seven were expected to give statements before a court on Thursday. Prosecutors on Thursday raided the Tokyo residence of the former Nissan Motor Co Ltd chairman, NHK also reported. Sources close to Ghosn have said he met Lebanese president Michel Aoun shortly after arriving in Beirut on Monday and was greeted warmly. A source at Mr Aoun's office has denied there was such a meeting.